Employing Bloggers

Here are 5 reasons why employing people who blog is more important than ever:

• They start fires. Blogging forces you to come up with new stuff. To be interesting.
• They understand the value of connection. And are connected. To other interesting people.
• They get digital. They appreciate the nuances and potential of social media. And how it works. Because they're doing it, not looking at it
• They're bothered. They have an opinion. They're not afraid to express it.
• They're passionate about their subject. And real passion is rare indeed.

Great stuff from Neil - cheers.

You just sold your soul to advertising Charlie Brown

A world where Linus is a joint-smoking prima donna, and Charlie Brown seems to have slept with half the world, may be a little too strange for anyone to take in. Still, a huge 'well done' to the uncredited agency who did this piece. Great work.

Cybercom Win “Best Online Campaign”

Beating off tough competition from Dare (UK), Cybercom last night won the “Best Online Campaign” at the Vodafone Global Creative Awards. The awards run across the entire Vodafone group (and their respective agencies) in all the countries that operate in, to highlight and promote advertising creative excellence.

This is great recognition by Vodafone of Cybercom's leading edge work in Digital Marketing. The campaign itself which sealed the victory was the launch campaign for Vodafone's Postpay Perfect Choice tariffs. The concept was based around Joe Hughes, a struggling Dublin actor, who found himself trapped in the very digital marketing campaign that was to launch his acting career. Joe made the wrong choice! Through Social Media (Bebo, Facebook, a blog and microsite) Joe sought the support of the public to get him out.

Whopper Virgins

Check out this fantastic new campaign from Burger King. The whole concept is centered around the idea of people having their first Whopper and the fact that it is an American institution. Really good stuff - especially as it's done through full video.

Human Rights Day

On December 10th, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicise the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

The Declaration was adopted at Palais de Chaillot, Paris, having arisen from the experience of the Second World War. It was the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled. It currently consists of 30 articles which have been elaborated in subsequent international treaties, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions and laws. The Declaration is however not set in stone and groups such as Amnesty International and War Resisters International have advocated for "The Right to Refuse to Kill" to be added to the Declaration. The Guinness Book of Records describes the Declaration as the "Most Translated Document" in the world.

The Declaration, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, forms the International Bill of Human Rights. In 1976, following ratification by a sufficient number of individual nations, the Bill took on the force of international law.

Today also marks the awarding of the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and the Nobel Peace Prize. This year the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights will be presented to Ms. Louise Arbour (former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights), Mr. Ramsey Clark (former United States Attorney General and lawyer), Dr. Carolyn Gomes (Jamaican Human Rights Defender) and Dr. Denis Mukwege (founder, director and chief surgeon of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo). Human Rights Watch. Mrs. Benazir Bhutto (Pakistani politician) and Sr. Dorothy Stang (US/Brazilian Human Rights Defender) will be awarded the prize posthumously.

The following videos are thoroughly worth the time to watch:
UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon
The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay